Boeing, KLM Launch ‘Optimal Flight’ Program

Boeing is launching its “Optimal Flight” program in collaboration with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a total of 26 flights powered by alternative jet fuel sources and featuring new technologies from Boeing aimed at improving operational flight efficiency.

(Boeing 777-200. Photo, courtesy of Boeing.)

The program will use a KLM Boeing 777-200 powered by sustainable aviation biofuel sourced from used cooking oil.

Boeing Research and Technology developed new flight services for the program that will use automation to integrate the dispatch and modified versions of the flight plan and performance data into the flight management computer (FMC). The air crew will be prompted with recommendations for speed variance based on real-time weather conditions, Boeing said.

"This demonstration program will help us determine where next to focus our research and development to deliver improvements to air traffic management and airline services for our customers,” said Mike Caflisch, director of airspace programs at Boeing.

The flights began Friday and will fly from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.